Miang (Betel Leaf) Recipe

This is a food for friends recipe that is perfect to start a meal. It serves about 4 or 5 people. 

What you need:

1 cup Chopped Shallots

1 cup Peanuts

3 Thai chillis

1 cup shredded coconut

2 limes (one for styling)

200 grams prawns or tuna sashimi

And for the dressing....

1 chopped shallot

1/2 piece of fresh ginger- or 3 tbsp of crushed ginger

1 tbsp shrimp paste or salmon xox sauce

2 tbs shredded roasted coconut

1 cup of water

1/2 a cup of palm sugar- can use brown sugar.

20 Betel leaves

NOTE: Betel leaves, shrimp paste and palm sugar are only found in asian supermarkets but coles and woolies are getting better at stocking asian sauces and spices. See below for a betel leaf, they actually come from a pepper tree. 

What to do:

I would start by washing the betel leaves in a strainer and putting them on a clean tea towel to let them dry. If you are using sashimi tuna you don't cook it, if you are using uncooked prawns then cook them in some butter or sesame oil. Don't overcook prawns they need to be in a hot pan no longer then 4-5 mins until hey turn pink, which depends on the size of the prawn. Roughly cut up the tuna or prawns so that they are about 1cm x 1cm. Place tuna or cooked prawns in a bowl and mix together with shallots, coconut and lime juice. To prepare the chilies cut them in half, scrape out the seeds with a knife and the white part in the middle too (this is the hottest part). Then slice the chilies across ways into thin strips (See video- Thanks youtube!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PV5bvCODRo. Mix the chilies in and the peanuts too. Mix the sauce ingredients into a measuring cup or small bowl and combine with all ready prepared mixture of prawn or tuna. 

How to serve: 

Place the betel leaves on a plate and arrange them nicely and not on top of each other. Place a spoonful of mixture on each and you can crush some more peanuts and put them on top of each leaf for a bit of styling. You can also put some of the coconut in a frying pan with a dash of oil until lightly golden and place on top. Place a wedge of lime on the plate for effect. 

How to eat:

You eat the leaf by wrapping up the mixture inside and putting in your mouth, leaf and all. People get really impressed by this dish. You could also make it with smoked trout or cooked/sashimi salmon. 

Remember:

If you use sashimi you have to get it from the fish monger, you cant just use any ordinary fish from the shop and eat it raw. It may have been frozen and thawed.